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• NEW COURT DECISION ON ILLEGAL CIGARETTES SHOWS NEED FOR STRONGER FEDERAL LAWS 

Today, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-Brooklyn & Queens) a member of the House Judiciary Committee renewed his call for stronger federal laws to curb the widespread illegal sale of tobacco after a federal judge dismissed all but one count in a lawsuit filed against Indian reservations who sell tax-free cigarettes. The court decision in Brooklyn dismissed the claim that the illegal cigarettes "created, fostered, and nourished a thriving black market," even though the selling of illegal cigarettes is a technique used by terror groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah to finance their activities. According to a recent Government Office of Accountability (GAO) report, Hezbollah profited $1.5 million from the sale of illegal tobacco from 1996-2000. Weiner has requested Congressional hearings to examine this national security issue. . . .

Reports of tobacco smuggling by individuals with ties to terrorist organizations include:

· June 21, 2002: A federal jury in North Carolina finds Mohamad Hammoud guilty of cigarette smuggling, racketeering, and money laundering. Hammoud and his brother smuggled $7.9 million worth of cigarettes from North Carolina to Michigan. Together they steered profits from their multimillion dollar cigarette smuggling operation to Hezbollah.

--May 1, 2003: 10 men of Middle Eastern descent are arrested in New York and Virginia for possession of 71, 467 cartons valued over $2.2 million, wire fraud and money laundering. Federal government opens investigation into suspected ties with Hezbollah . . .

"We must crack down on the illegal sale of tobacco which gives terrorists and criminals the ability to raise more money," said Rep. Weiner.

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